Florida tornadoes are damaging and more frequent: Here is how to prepare
Tornadoes in Florida can pose a serious risk to life, limb and property. Know the signs of severe weather and be prepared for an emergency.
Andrew Atkins, Fort Myers News-Press
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch in Tallahassee on Thursday, March 12, from 5:56 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. This warning applies to Franklin, Jefferson, Leon, Wakulla, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas and Tift counties.
A series of severe thunderstorm warnings involving the potential for 60 mph winds and pea-seized hail have also been issued for north Florida and South Georgia cities and counties, including Tallahassee, Crawfordville, and Midway until 8:45 a.m.
There remains the potential for a few tornadoes and scattered strong gusts of 60 to 70 mph as a squall line pushes through between 8 a.m and 10:30 p.m.
“This line of storms has a history of producing damaging winds and possibly a few tornadoes,” forecasters wrote in their morning discussion.
“Most tornadoes have occurred in Alabama and Georgia and it’s likely that this trend continues into the next 3 to 4 hours. However, a brief tornado can’t be ruled out across Florida through the rest of the morning.”
Forecaster have already received several reports of trees down and weather stations measuring 40 to 60 mph wind gusts.
“Behind the front, winds will be quite gusty with frequent gusts of 25-35 mph expected. While not quite Wind Advisory level, some low- end impacts such as small broken tree limbs and unsecured small objects being blown around can’t be ruled out.”
Tallahassee area weather radar
What are NWS meteorologists saying?
At 5:56 a.m., the NWS issued a statement including the following information:
“THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS EXTENDED TORNADO WATCH 49 TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING AREAS UNTIL 9 a.m. EDT THIS MORNING IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 4 COUNTIES IN BIG BEND FLORIDA FRANKLIN JEFFERSON LEON WAKULLA IN GEORGIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA BEN HILL BERRIEN BROOKS COLQUITT COOK IRWIN LANIER LOWNDES THOMAS TIFT IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA GRADY THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABBA, ADEL, ALMA, APALACHICOLA, ASHTON, BANNOCKBURN, BARNEYVILLE, BAY CITY, BEACHTON, BERRIEN CO A/P, BETHEL, BEVERLY, BLUE SPRINGS, BOWENS MILL, BRADFORDVILLE, BROOKS CO A/P, BUCK SIDING, CAIRO, CAPEL, CAPITOLA, CAPPS, CARRABELLE, CASA BLANCO, CHAIRES, CHAIRES CROSSROADS, CHULA, COOK CO A/P, COTTLE, COURTHOUSE, DILLON, DILLS, DIXIE, DRIFTON, ELPINO, EMPRESS, FESTUS, FITZGERALD, FITZGERALD MUNICIPAL A/P, FORT GADSDEN, GRADY CO A/P, GREGGS, GROOVERVILLE, HARDING, HILLIARDVILLE, IRWINVILLE, JARROTT, KILLEARN ESTATES, KILLEARN LAKES, LACONTE, LAKELAND, MACLAY STATE GARDENS, MASSEE, METCALF, MONCRIEF, MONTICELLO, MOULTRIE, MOULTRIE MUNICIPAL A/P, NANKIN, NASHVILLE, OCILLA, PASCO, PINE PARK, PINE VALLEY, QUEENSLAND, QUITMAN, SOPCHOPPY, SPENCE AIRPORT, ST. MARKS, SUNSWEET, TALLAHASSEE, TEETERVILLE, THOMASVILLE, TIFTON, TILTON, VALDOSTA, VALDOSTA REGIONAL AIRPORT, WAKULLA SPRINGS, WATERLOO, WEBER, AND WESTWOOD.”
How do you stay safe during a tornado?
During a tornado, the National Weather Service recommends:
- Get as low as possible. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety.
- Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible.
- Avoid windows.
Remember, tornadoes can move across hills and even bodies of water, so always seek shelter if one is nearby – your elevation or proximity to water are not natural sources of protection.
What should you do if you’re driving during a tornado warning?
If you’re driving, especially on interstates or highways, do not try to outrun a tornado – they can move quickly and change direction without warning.
If a tornado warning is in effect, look for ways to safely leave the road and get out of your vehicle. The safest option is to seek shelter in a sturdy building.
If no building is available, avoid taking cover under a highway overpass. While it might seem protective, overpasses can act as wind tunnels, increasing wind speed and the risk of injury.
Instead, lie flat in the nearest depression, ditch, or culvert and cover your head with your arms.
What is a tornado watch?
A tornado watch means that conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop in and around the watch area. It doesn’t mean a tornado is occurring, but it signals that the necessary ingredients – such as strong wind shear, atmospheric instability and lift – are present.
When a tornado watch is issued, make sure you have multiple ways to receive weather updates and a safety plan ready in case a tornado warning is issued.
What is a tornado warning?
A tornado warning is a more serious alert, indicating that a tornado is either happening or is about to happen, and you should take shelter immediately.
There are two types of alerts:
- Radar-indicated warning: Strong rotation is detected; a tornado may form or is in the process of forming. When a warning is radar-indicated, it typically means the radar has detected a rotating thunderstorm (called a mesocyclone) capable of producing a tornado. However, not all radar-indicated warnings result in an actual tornado touchdown.
- Confirmed warning : A tornado has been spotted or detected by radar through a debris signature.
Regardless of whether the warning is radar-indicated or confirmed, it is critical to take shelter immediately, as tornadoes can form quickly and radar cannot always capture what’s happening at ground level.
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This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.
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